By Johan Norval
Premium and high average prices for Meatmasters were the hallmarks of the 39th production auction of Mario du Preez and his father-in-law, Clynton Collett, of La Rochelle, Venterstad.
The good demand for Meatmasters was evident in the strong competition among the bidders. According to Du Preez, the buyers were impressed with the quality of the ewes on offer, which led to exceptionally high average prices.
The most expensive ram, Vlam (CC 210188), sold for R250 000, bringing the average price of the 95 rams to R15 063,16. The buyer is the Nu Vino stud of Wessel Fourie of Boschkop, Pretoria. Fourie attended the auction exclusively to acquire this ram, which he considers to be some of the best breeding material in the breed.
An investment company from Bloemfontein, Yield Agri, provided several highlights at the auction. Duncan Cairns bought the most expensive pregnant ewe, CC 180597, for R30 000, as well as the most expensive non-pregnant ewe, CC 180367, for R18 000. Cairns was the underbidder of Vlam and backed out at R240 000. Yield Agri also paid R4 000 for a lot with a rooster and three hens from Du Preez’s son, Nathan.
Cairns also bought the most expensive ram from Collett Genetics, Big Brass, for R70 000 at the 2024 national auction in Bloemfontein. Siblings from this ram are used in his stud outside Bloemfontein and Jagersfontein.
The 157 pregnant ewes were sold for an average price of R6 767,52 and 64 non-pregnant ewes for an average of R6 390,63. The 318 lots fetched a turnover of more than R2,9 million.
Vleissentraal Port Elizabeth hosted the auction on the farm La Rochelle, with André van Zyl as auctioneer.
Also read:
Eastern Cape Angora field ram auction exceeds expectations
